City watch. Community life.

World Of Wheels A Turn-on

After-school Bike Program Offers Kids Fun, New Skills

Like any working parent, Juanita Mauldin's thoughts are constantly on her children as she goes about the daily duties of her job.

"Every day I look at my watch and think, OK, if it's this time they should be at this place, doing this thing, with this person," said Mauldin, who admits to being a bit of a worrywart.

"I can't help it. I can't do my job well unless I know my kids are happy. That whatever they're doing, they're safe and being productive-not just sitting at home and watching TV."

For Mauldin, that kind of peace of mind came last June when her 12-year-old son Derrick joined the Blackstone Bicycle Co-op, an innovative summer and after-school program for children, ages 7 to 17.

"What's so fantastic about the bike shop is that it's strictly for kids," Mauldin said. "It's about things they like to do. Kids find out about it from other kids. They start coming around and checking it out. It doesn't take long before they get hooked."

The purpose of the bike shop, in an old warehouse at 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., is twofold: to find creative ways to recycle bicycles and provide children with a useful skill.

"To Derrick it's serious business-it's like his first job," said Mauldin, who has imposed a temporary hiatus from the bike shop on her son until evaluation of his next report card.

"The bike shop has been a real boost for him, but I don't want him slacking off on his studies. School is too important. If his grades are good, then he can do whatever he wants with his free time."

Ten-year-old Jerry Stewart is another big supporter of the shop. He signed up after rave reviews from his older brother.

"I can fix just about any kind of bike," said Jerry, with a burst of uninhibited pride. "Sometimes it takes longer for some of the fancier ones."

Sandwiched between Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago campus, the bike shop is a place where kids can tinker on their own two-wheelers as they learn how to repair and customize bicycles that will eventually be sold.

"I remember how I felt at their age," said Andy Gregg, 30, manager of the bike shop. "Half the time, I was either bored silly or getting into trouble. My whole world changed when I got interested in bikes. It gave me something fun to do. Something I was really good at it."

The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All work is done under adult supervision. Members are required to spend at least four hours working in the shop. Although anyone is welcome to use the shop's services, membership brings certain benefits. A barter system allows members to exchange labor hours toward the purchase of bikes and parts.

The bike shop, which opened two years ago, is an offshoot of the Resource Center, one of Chicago's leading innovators on recycling. Funded through grants and private donations, the shop operates as a cooperative where donated bicycles are refurbished and then sold to the public at prices from $15 to $60.

"Most of our customers are U. of C. students who are impressed with the quality of our bikes," said Dan Peterman, a Chicago artist and a founder of the bike shop. "They're amazed to learn that these are kids doing most of the work."